Motorized pack carrier



Aug. 16, 1966 Filed Jan. 28, 1965 A. FONDA MOTORIZED PACK CARRIER 5Sheets-Sheet 1 52 A IZv A n ran/a Fonda 1N VEN TOR.

Aug. 16, 1966 FONDA 3,266,453

MOTORIZED PACK CARRIER Filed Jan. 28. 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4 Fi 5Anion/o Fonda IN VENTOR.

Aug. 16, 1966 A. FONDA 3,266,453

MOTORIZED PACK CARRIER Filed Jan. 28, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 6

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Amania Fonda 1N VEN TOR.

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United States Patent 3,266,453 MOTORIZED PACK CARRIER Antonio Fonda, 9258th Ave, Tracy, Quebec, Canada Filed Jan. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 428,740 8Claims. (Cl. 115-1) This invention relates to a novel andusefulmotorized pack carrier and more specifically to an apparatus includingan elongated and generally horizontally disposed load supporting framefrom one end of which a buoyant drumtype powered drive wheel isjournale-d. The pack carrier includes elongated and generallyhorizontally disposed handle means and the handle means and theelongated frame include means reversibly securing one end portion of thehandle means to the frame with the other end portion of said handlemeans projecting from opposite ends of said frame in alternate positionsof attachment of said handle means to said frame.

The motor means by which the drum-type drive wheel is powered issupported from the end of the frame of the pack carrier remote from thedrive wheel. By this construction the weight of the motor means drivingthe drum-type drive wheel and any load supported from the elongated mainframe of the pack carrier may be disposed on the same or other side ofthe axis of rotation of the drive wheel, relative to the handle means.By positioning the handle means and the motor means as well as any loadsupported by the frame of the pack carrier on the same side of the axisof rotation of the drive wheel a person supporting the free end of thehandle means will have to apply an upward supporting thrust of the freeend of the handle means inasmuch as a portion of the weight of themotorized pack carrier minus its drive wheel, the motor means fordriving the drive Wheel and any load supported from the frame of thepack carrier will be transmitted to the free end of the handle means. Onthe other hand, should the handle means be reversed so that the free endthereof projects from the other end of the frame of the pack carrier,the weight of the handle means will be overbalanced by the weight of thedrive motor and any load supported from the main frame of the packcarrier and therefore, a person operating the pack carrier will have toapply a downward thrust on the free end of the handle means.

It is believed that it will be readily apparent from the description ofthe pack carrier set forth hereinafter that there are numerousadvantages to providing such a motorized pack carrier with reversiblehandle means in that the reversibility of the handle means enables aportion of the total weight of the: pack carrier to be supported fromthe drive wheel of the pack carrier to !be varied.

The main object of this invention is to provide a motor-. ized packcarrier including means by which a heavy load may be readily supportedand moved from one location to another.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a motorized packcarrier which may be utilized to .effect a horizontal driving thrust ona load supported from the medium from which the pack carrier issupported.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a motorized packcarrier including a buoyant drive wheel including :a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced generally radially outwardly projecting andlongitudinally extending paddle wheel drive lugs in order that themotorized pack carrier may be afforded maximum traction when supportedfrom soft ground or snow and also be utilized as :a motive force whenthe pack carrier is sup-v ported on a body of water with the lowerportion of the drive wheel disposed in the water. 7

An ancillary object of this invention. is to provide the drive wheel ofthe motorized pack carrier with circum- Patented August 16, 1966ferentially extending ground-engaging strap means removably secured bythe drive wheel bridging the spacing between adjacent paddle wheel drivelugs whereby the pack carrier may be utilized on a smooth supportingsurface such as a road Without the paddle wheel-drive lugs causingexcessive vibration of the pack carrier.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a motorized pack carrier in accordance with the precedingobjects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be ofsimple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that willbe economically feasible, long lasting and relatively troublefree inoperation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is :a top plan view of the motorized pack carrier shown withportions of the elongated and horizontally disposed handle means brokenaway;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly illustrated inFIGURE 1 with parts of the motorized pack carrier being broken away andshown in vertical section;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional viewtaken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the pack carrier asseen from the left side of FIGURE 4 and with portions of the packcarrier broken away and shown in transverse vertical section;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the releasablelatch means by which the hood of the pack carrier may be secured in theclosed position;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse vertical sectional viewtaken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 7-7 ofFIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the pack carrier being used totransport a load on land;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view illustratingthe manner in which tread rings may be secured to the drum;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of the pack carrier being utilizedto support and push a snow plow;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view illustrating the pack carrier beingused to propel a boat; and

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE 8 but with thehandle means of the pack carrier reversed in position.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generallydesignates the pack carrier of the instant invention. The pack carrier10 includes a main frame generally referred to by the reference numeral12 comprising a pair of rigidly interconnected longitudinal framemembers 14 and 16. The rear ends of the longitudinal frame members 14and 16 have a pair of journal blocks 18 supported therefrom and an axlemember 20 is rotatably journaled from the journal blocks 18 and has adrum-type drive wheel 22 mounted thereon. The axle 20 also has a drivesprocket 24 mounted thereon and a plurality of paddle wheel drive lugs26 are spaced circumferentially about the drive wheel 22 and projectgenerally radially outwardly therefrom.

A source of motive power in the form of motor means 28 is supported fromthe end of the frame 12 remote from the drive wheel 22 in any convenientmanner and is generally designated by the reference numeral 28. Themotor means 28 includes a rotatable output shaft 30 on which a smalldiameter sprocket wheel 32 is secured. The sprocket wheels 24 and 32 arealignedand the sprocket wheel 32 is drivingly connected to the sprocketwheel 24 by means of an endless chain 34.

A hood assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 36including a top wall 38 and a pair of longitudinally extending anddepending opposite side walls 40 and 42 is provided and partiallyembraces the drive wheel 22 and encloses the motor means 28. The hood 36includes rigidifying generally U-shaped brace means 44 and 46. The bracemeans 44 and 46 are each generally inverted U-shaped in configurationand secured to the top wall 38 as well as the opposite side walls 40 and42. In addition, the lower ends of the legs 48 and 50 of the brace means44 are pivotally secured to the main frame 12 in any convenient mannersuch as by pivot fasteners 52 and S4.

The motor means 28 includes an internal combustion engine 56 and a speedreducing and reversing transmission 58. The internal combustion engine56 includes a power output shaft 60 which is coupled to the power inputshaft 62 of the transmission 58 by means of a releasable clutch 64 andthe transmission 58 includes a power output shaft comprising the shaft30. The transmission 58 may be utilized to reverse the direction inwhich the drive wheel 22 is rotated by the motor means 28.

The hood 36 substantially completely encloses the motor means 28including the internal combustion engine 56 and the transmission 58 andframe 12 includes a belly pan portion 65 extending beneath the internalcombustion engine 28.

A pair of elongated handles 66 and 68 are provided and are releasablysecured to the side Walls 40 and 42 by means of pairs of releasableclamp rings 70 and 72 or the like. As can be seen by a comparison ofFIG- URES 8 and 12 the handle means comprising the handles 66 and 68 maybe readily reversed. The handle 68 includes a control assembly 76including ignition and throttle controls 78 and 80 with the internalcombustion engine 56 and the handle 66 includes a gear shift ing controland a clutch control 82 and 84 for control of the operation of thetransmission 58 and the clutch 64.

The main frame 12 includes a rear transverse member and a pair oflatching mechanisms generally referred to by the reference numeral 92are supported from the side walls 40 and 42. Each of the latchingmechanisms 92 includes a mounting plate 94 suitably apertured as at 96and secured to the corresponding side wall by means of fasteners 98secured through the apertures 96. The mounting plates 94 each alsoinclude a stub axle portion 100 and an actuating disk 102 which issuitably apertured as at 104 and includes an eccentrically disposedcrank pin 106 is journaled on each stub axle 100. Each of the actuatingdisks 102 includes an operating handle 108 in the form of an anglemember and has one end of a latching arm assembly generally referred toby the reference numeral 110 pivotally secured to the correspondingeccentric pin 106. Each latching arm 110 is apertured as at 112 torotatably receive the corresponding eccentric pin 106 and defines afirst section 114 in which the corresponding aperture 112 is formed andwhich includes an apertured right angulated end portion 116 remote fromthe aperture 112. A second section 118 has a threaded shank portion 120extending longitudinally of one end and the shank portion 120 of eachlatching arm is secured through the apertured laterally directed endportion 116 by means of suitable nuts 122 threadedly engaged on theshank portion. The end of the section 118 remote from the threaded shankportion 120 is hooked as at 124 and is engaged under the correspondingend of the transverse member 90. In addition, each of the side walls 40and 42 has a locking lever 126 pivotally secured thereto as at 128. Insecuring the hood 36 in its closed position the disks 102 are firstrotated in a direction to position the pins 106 closer to the transversebrace member 90. Then, the hooked end portions 124 engaged under thetransverse brace member 90 and the disks 102 are rotated so as to movethe pins 106 away from the transverse brace member 90. After thelatching arms 110 have been tensioned, the levers 126 may be swung intoposition abutting the free ends of the corresponding handles 108 toretain the disks 102 in their positions of adjustment securing the hood36 in its closed position.

With attention now invited to FIGURES 9 and 12 of the drawings it may beseen that the drive lugs or paddles 26 may be adapted for smootheroperation on a level supporting surface 130 by the securement of a pairof tread rings 132 which are split and joined together as at 134-. Eachof the tread rings 132 includes a resilient outer tread surface 136 andeach of the rings 132 define-s a simple ring clamp which may be securedabout the drum by means of fasteners 138 secured through the inturnedflanges 140 formed on the abutting ends of each ring 132.

With attention now directed to FIGURES 8 and 12 of the drawings it maybe seen that the handles 66 and 68 may be reversed so as to selectivelyposition the load 1'34 and the center of gravity of the main frame 12including the internal combustion engine 28 between the free end of thehandles 66 and 68 and the axis of rotation of the ground engaging wheelor drum 22 as viewed in FIGURE 12 of the drawings or on the side of theaxis of rotation of the drum 22 remote from the free ends of the handles66 and 68 as shown in FIGURE 8 of the drawings. The operator 136 of thepack carrier 10 in FIGURE 12 of the drawings has to exert an upwardforce on the free ends of the handles 66 and 68 to maintain the packcarrier 10 in a substantially horizontally disposed position andtherefore a portion of the total weight of the pack carrier 10 issupported by the operator 136 and removed from the point of contact 140of the drum 20 with the supporting surface 130. However, the operator136 in FIGURE 8 of the drawings must maintain a downward force on thefree ends of the handles 66 and 68 to countenbalance the center ofgravity of the load 134 and the frame 12 and the internal combustionengine 28 of the pack carrier 10 and therefore an additional downwardthrust is applied by the drum or wheel 22 at the point of contact 142with the supporting surface 130 in FIGURE 8 of the drawings. Thus,reversing the handles 66 and 68 from the positions illustrated in FIGURE12 of the drawings to the positions illustrated in FIGURE 8 of thedrawings affords greater traction for the drive wheel or drum 22 of thepack carrier 10.

In FIGURE 10 of the drawings a scraper blade assembly generally referredto by the reference numeral 144 is shown secured to the front of thepack carrier 10 and the handles 66 and 68 are positioned to extendrearwardly 10f the drive wheel or drum 22 thereby enabling the weight ofthe frame 12 in the internal comlbustion engine 28 to apply a downwardthrust on the scraper blade assembly 144.

In FIGURE 11 of the drawings a pair of float assemblies 146 have beensecured to the opposite sides of the frame 12 of the pack carrier 10 andthe free ends of the handles 66 and 68 are secured to the bow portion.148 of a boat hu-ll 150, a portion of the weight of the pack carrier 10therefore being supported by the boat hull 150 and enabling the floats146 to maintain the pack carrier 10 at a higher elevation relative tothe water 152 than would be possible if the handles 66 and 68 werepositioned as illustrated in FIGURE 8 of the drawings.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A motorized pack carrier comprising a main frame defining a pair ofopposite side and spaced apart support points, a wide and generallycylindrical buoyant drive wheen journa-led from said support points forrotation about an axis extending between said points, motor meanssupported from said frame and drivingly connected to said :drive wheel,said mainframe being elongated and generally horizontally disposed, saidsupport points being disposed on one end portion of said frame and thecenter of gravity of said motor means being disposed on the side of avertical plane extending transversely through said frame equidistantfrom the opposite ends of said frame remote from said axis of rotationof said drive wheel, and elongated and generally horizontally disposedhandle means, said handle means and said main frame including meansreversibly securing one end portion of said handle means to said framewith the other end portion of said handle means projecting from oppositeends of said frame in its alternate positions of attachment to saidframe, said other end portion of said handle means including controlmeans operative to control the operation of said motor means, saidbuoyant wheel displacing a quantity of water over that quantity of waterwhich has the same weight as said carrier.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said drive Wheel includes aplurality of cireumferentially spaced, generally radially outwardlyprojecting and longitudinally extending paddle wheel drive lugs.

3. The combination of claim 2 including circumferentially extendingground engaging strap means secured about said drive wheel and bridgingthe spacing between adjacent drive lugs, said strap means comlprising aplurality of straps spaced axially along said drive wheel.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said one end portion of said framedefines a downwardly opening frame portion generally inverted U-shapedin transverse crosssection and eiining a pair of upright sidesinterconnected by means of an upper generally horizontal bight portion,said downwardly opening frame portion at least partially embracing theupper portion of said drive wheel.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said main frame defines adownwardly opening frame portion at least partially embracing said drivewheel and enclosing said motor means.

6. A motorized pack-carrier comprising a main frame defining a pair ofopposite side and spaced-apart support points, a wide and generallycylindrical drive wheel journaled from said support points for rotationabout an axis extending between said points, motor means supported fromsaid frame and being drivingly connected to said drive wheel, said mainframe being elongated and generally horizontally disposed, said supportpoints being disposed on one end portion of said frame and the center ofgravity of said motor means being on the side of a vertical planeextending transversely through said frame equidistant from the oppositeends of said frame remote from said axis of rotation of said drivewheel, elongate-d generally horizontally disposed handle means, saidhandle means and said frame including coacting means reversibly securingone end portion of said handle means to said frame with the other endportion of said handle means projecting from opposite ends of said framein its alternate positions of attachment to said frame, said main framemeans including a generally horizontal and inverted U-shaped hoodextending longitudinally thereof and including a pair of depending sidewalls interconnected by means of a transversely extending top wall,means pivotally securing one end of said hood to said frame for rotationabout an axis extending between the lower portions of the ends of saidsidewalls adjacent the first mentioned axis, said hood and said mainframe including means releasalbly securing said hood in a generallyhorizontal position relative to said frame.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said hood at least partiallyembraces the upper portion of said drive wheel and encloses said motormeans.

8. A motorized pack carrier comprising a main frame defining a pair ofopposite side and spaced apart support points, a wide and generallycylindrical drive wheel journaled from said support points for rotationabout an axis extending between said points, motor means supported fromsaid frame and drivingly connected to said drive wheel, said main framebeing elongated and generally horizontally disposed, said support pointsbeing disposed on one end portion of said frame and the center ofgravity of said motor means being disposed on the side of a verticalplane extending transversely through said frame equidistant from theopposite ends of said frame remote from said axis of rotation of saiddrive wheel, and elongated and generally horizontally disposed handlemeans, said handle means and said main frame including coacting meansreversibly securing one end portion of said handle means to said framewith the other end portion of said handle means projecting from oppositeends of said frame in its alternate positions of attachment to saidframe, said main frame means including a generally horizontal andinverted U-shaped hood extending longitudinally thereof and including apair of depending side walls interconnected by means of a transverselyextending top wall, means pivotally securing :one end of said hood tosaid frame for rotation about an axis extending between the lowerportions of the ends of said side walls adjacent the first-mentionedaxis, said hood and said main frame including means releasably securingsaid hood in a generally horizontal position relative to said frame,said handle means being supported from said hood.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS MILTON BUCHLER,Primary Examiner.

ANDREW H. FARRELL, Examiner.

1. A MOTORIZED PACK CARRIER COMPRISING A MAIN FRAME DEFINING A PAIR OFOPPOSITE SIDE AND SPACED APART SUPPORT POINTS, A WIDE AND GENERALLYCYLINDRICAL BUOYANT DRIVE WHEN JOURNALED FROM SAID SUPPORT POINTS FORROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID POITNS, MOTOR MEANSSUPPORTED FROM SAID FRAME AND DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID DRIVE WHEEL,SAID MAIN FRAME BEING ELONGATED AND GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED,SAID SUPPORT POINTS BEING DISPOSED ON ONE END PORTION OF SAID FRAME ANDTHE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF SAID MOTOR MEANS BEING DISPOSED ON THE SIDE OFA VERTICAL PLANE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THROUGH SAID FRAME EQUIDISTANTFROM THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID FRAME REMOTE FROM SAID AXIS OF ROTATIONOF SAID DRIVE WHEEL, AND ELONGATED AND GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSEDHANDLE MEANS, SAID HANDLE MEANS AND SAID MAIN FRAME INCLUDING MEANSREVERSIBLY SECURING ONE END PORTION OF SAID HANDLE MEANS TO SAID FRAMEWITH THE OTHER END PORTION OF SAID HANDLE MEANS PROJECTING FROM OPPOSITEENDS OF SAID FRAME IN ITS ALTERNATE POSITIONS OF ATTACHMENT TO SAIDFRAME, SAID OTHER END PORTION OF SAID HANDLE MEANS INCLUDING CONTROLMEANS OPERATIVE TO CONTROL THE OPERATION OF SAID MOTOR MEANS, SAIDBUOYANT WHEEL DISPLACING A QUANTITY OF WATER OVER THAT QUANTITY OF WATERWHICH HAS THE SAME WEIGHT AS SAID CARRIER.